Respiratory muscle activity in patients with COPD walking to exhaustion with and without pressure support

D Kyroussis, M I Polkey, C H Hamnegard, G H Mills, M Green, J Moxham

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    107 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The function of the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles during exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains controversial and few data exist regarding respiratory muscle pressure generation in this situation. The inspiratory pressure/time products of the oesophageal and transdiaphragmatic pressure, and the expiratory gastric pressure/time product during exhaustive treadmill walking in 12 patients with severe COPD are reported. The effect of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation during treadmill exercise was also examined in a subgroup of patients (n=6). During free walking, the inspiratory pressure/time products rose early in the walk and then remained level until the patients were forced to stop because of intolerable dyspnoea, In contrast, the expiratory gastric pressure/time product increased exhaustive progressively throughout the walk. When patients walked the same distance assisted by noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, a substantial reduction was observed in the inspiratory and expiratory pressure/time products throughout the walk. When patients walked with positive pressure ventilation for as long as they could, the pressure/time products observed at exercise cessation were lower than those observed during exercise cessation after free walking. It is concluded that, in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inspiratory muscle pressure generation does not increase to meet the demands imposed by exhaustive exercise, whereas expiratory muscle pressure generation rises progressively. Inspiratory pressure support was shown to substantially unload all components of the respiratory muscle pump.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)649 - 655
    Number of pages7
    JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal
    Volume15
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2000

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Respiratory muscle activity in patients with COPD walking to exhaustion with and without pressure support'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this